The beginning of the school year is a nerve-wracking time for Supply Teachers. Will we get a call? How slow will work be in the first few weeks? What am I going to pack in my Supply bag? What resources should I buy? What fiction books would the students like?
When I first started teaching I would haul around mountains of resources for “just in case”. In the car I kept a file-a-folder FULL of worksheets. At home I had workbooks for Literacy and Numeracy for every grade along with storybooks to suit particular grades. In my bag I would carry a plastic sleeve folder with colouring-in photocopies and worksheets as I found using the photocopier at a school near impossible to gain access to. I also had a diary for reflection and for recording and booking in future days as well as a blank book to record fun activities I would come across.
I packed a large pencil case with spare stationary for students, spare paper for class activities, a hat, dice, hacky sack, stickers, water bottle and my lunch. Although most of what I packed went unused, I needed the security of it all just in case I was caught out with nothing to teach.
Boy did it weigh a tonne!
These days I feel a lot calmer when I get the morning call. I have a light-weight bag packed that suits every grade level. I have one book- Teacher for a Day that contains my diary, organiser and all the activities I need for lower and upper primary. I still pack a storybook, a pen and spare pencil, spare paper, a hat, dice, hacky sack, stickers, water bottle and my lunch but I have cut out that morning run around trying to pack my bag to suit each grade, making for a much less stressful start to the day.
Do what you need to do to calm your nerves, especially if you are new to the Supply Teaching game, but do yourself a favour and get a copy of Teacher for a Day.
Kelly
Buy your copy of the eBook or Hardcopy or both here!
